Antelope Island ??“ Great Salt Lake, UT 2011
Submission for PSA Group 36
JULY 2026
Location: Antelope Island, Great Salt Lake, Utah
Date: March 22, 2011
Photographer: Grace Dunklee Cohen
Gear: Canon PowerShot G12 - focal length 13.761mm Settings: 1/400 - f / 4.0, ISO 80 handheld
Back in March of 2011, I was visiting my son and this was my first trip to Antelope Island. At that time, I often left my big cameras and big glass home and traveled light with a higher-end ‘point-and-shoot’-type camera for convenience. Dusk was on the horizon. We had hiked part way up the mountain an sat to watch the late day fade to night. The lake was absolutely still ??“ as was the air. Deep silence prevailed. It was a spiritual moment for both of us ??“ staring at the shades of blue and purple as the “Golden Hour” began washing over our easterly view ??“ the snow-capped Wasatch Mountain Range. We stayed ??“ transfixed ??“ until it was quite dark.
Edits to this image were completed long ago, but I remember that that it involved some cropping and color adjustments.
When I used to look at this image, it filled me with wonder and a sense of magical, deep peace. Today, it fills me with a deep sense of sorrow. The Great Salt Lake, considered one of the Wonders of the World, is drying up. Every year, when I fly in and out of Salt Lake City, I see more drought-raved shoreline overtaking the salty water. I can’t wait to get away from the airport and up into the mountains, far above the toxic dust blown into the city basin from the dried-up shoreline. Dozens of decades of copper smelting belched toxic chemicals up into the air, which rained down into the lake. Sadly, the lake water has receded significantly since I took this photo from Antelope Island in 2011. But I am still hopeful that the lake can be saved and restored.
6 comments posted
Michael Jack
Great time of day and conditions to make this image. Good exposure to not blow out the whites of the mountains. Because of the strong reflections I agree with the placement of the mountains and reflections in the center of the image. My only suggestion is the make this more of a pano, cropping down from the sky and up from the bottom. It is sad that our lakes and glaciers are disappearing so it is fortunate you had an opportunity to capture it. Posted: 07/05/2026 16:30:32
Barbara Gore
Hi Grace. The long-term decline caused by droughts is disheartening. I'm glad you were able to capture this scene back in 2011, along with enjoying a good hike and a peaceful moment to reflect. The stillness of the lake, combined with the clouds, creates a nice reflection in the water. The blue tones are especially soothing against the white-capped mountain range. I had the same thought as Michael and agree that a crop could further strengthen the composition. Posted: 07/05/2026 17:39:20
Larry Treadwell
I feel like you did a really nice job with the exposure and thus retained some interesting detail in the snow and ice. That along with the reflection is what the image is all about. To be there seems to be an additional image creeping in from the bottom. Thus, like the others I would remove the dark blue area at the bottom and just keep the reflection and the ice. Posted: 07/05/2026 18:01:51
Tracy Kaminer
Like with Larry's photo, my appreciation of the photo is enhanced by the documentary sense of it when you explain what it is and why it matters. I understand the desire to get away from the pollution and sadness of the scene, but it would be interesting to go back and take the photo again to see how things have changed. I also like that you included a photo that was taken with a point and shoot. I've seen some presentations by very good photographers who include photos they have taken with point and shoot cameras because that's what they had with them. And the opportunity was there. A sweet memory and a bittersweet in hindsight. Posted: 07/07/2026 20:26:51
Bill Peake
That's a really impactful image. I love the way the snow covered mountains reflect in the water. The clouds in the sky just above the mountains add a lot of interest. I would definitely crop some of the empty sky above the image as it doesn't really add to it. It is really sad what is happening now with the Great Salt Lake and would be a disaster if it dries up completely. Hopefully something can be done to save it. Posted: 07/10/2026 22:23:04
Adi Ben-Senior
Fantastic ! The reflection is perfect the horizon is straight and the composition is spot on.
You may want to consider darkening the upper edge a bit it will emphasise the viewer on the mountains
